Update:
PRAIRIE COUNTY, Ark. – Officers arrested another suspect tonight in Beebe.
Law enforcement arrested Eric Allen for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
This arrest totals the number of arrests made today to more than half a dozen.
Original story:
PRAIRIE COUNTY, Ark. – A secret briefing sets a game plan. We suit up and hit the road with Hazen Police Chief Bradley Taylor.
“We have several arrest warrants the Central Arkansas Drug Tasks Force along with Prairie County Sheriff’s Office, Hazen Police Department, and Des Arc Police Department have been working over approximately a year,” says Chief Bradley Taylor.
A year of work that really comes down to one day, Tuesday.
Serving the search warrants to find people they say are dealing drugs in Prairie County.
Officers find more than a dozen guns and pills just at the first house searched, but no one’s home, so on to the next.
They check out a few places then find one person officers say deals drugs.
“I don’t want to talk to nobody, but Mr. Taylor here.”
Officers then show me what they say they found at this man’s place.
Than a quick meeting to plan the next move, then a drive away….
“It’s mainly meth that we’re going after today,” says Chief Bradley Taylor.
Officers arrest another suspected drug dealer, he didn’t want to talk either.
“We have mixed feelings on it because a lot of times these drugs take over different families. Some of the time, most of the time–these people, even us– we have family that’s been affected by drugs.”
Back near Hazen, officers arrest a home health aid they say sold drugs.
“Not even right, I don’t do drugs at all.”
The woman she was taking care of worries.
“Ya, it worries me because I do take medication and I had no idea she was doing something like that,” says Norma Fitpatrick.
“I’m sick of having to deal with the traffic,” says neighbor Bridget Wilson.
Her neighbor Bridget Wilson clapped during the arrest.
“Ya, I’m glad they’re finally doing something about it. I’m really happy, I really am.”
Officers arrested half a dozen people on Monday, and say they aren’t done. Authorities say the following people were arrested and face various drug related charges ranging from possession to delivery of a controlled substance: Joshua Weems, Dwayne Jones, Ashli Turner, Deshawn Humbert.
“He’s got two warrants for delivery of methamphetamine and cocaine,” says Chief Bradley Taylor.
Hazen Police Chief says Scott Sponsler was arrested for failure to register as a sex offender. Officers said he was staying across the street from Des Arc Elementary School.
The suspects now sit in the Prairie County Jail.